Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) salary in Alabama
Alabama nurse anesthetists earn a median of $190,300 a year ($91.49 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 20% below the national median of $236,590, and ranks 41st of 44 states.
Median, Alabama
$190,300
Mean $189,120
Middle half earns
$169,250 to $213,590
US: $206,730 to $294,350
Employed in Alabama
1,810
2.57x the national concentration
Where Alabama sits in the range
Alabama
Statewide
United States
National
Birmingham
Metro area
Huntsville
Metro area
Tuscaloosa
Metro area
Dothan
Metro area
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by percentile
Ten percent of Alabama nurse anesthetists earned less than $101,450 and ten percent earned more than $270,220, a spread of $168,770. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | Alabama | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $101,450 | $155,250 | -34.7% |
| 25th | $169,250 | $206,730 | -18.1% |
| Median | $190,300 | $236,590 | -19.6% |
| 75th | $213,590 | $294,350 | -27.4% |
| 90th | $270,220 | $339,500 | -20.4% |
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by metro area
BLS published CRNA pay for 7 metro areas that include part of Alabama. Columbus, GA-AL has the highest median at $229,990. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 750 | $175,850 | $101,450 to $211,480 |
| Huntsville, AL | 280 | $213,590 | $207,490 to $213,590 |
| Tuscaloosa, ALmoderate precision | 90 | $195,660 | $181,040 to $212,360 |
| Dothan, ALmoderate precision | 90 | $187,980 | $181,330 to $219,890 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, ALmoderate precision | 50 | $188,760 | $181,460 to $207,010 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | not published | $229,990 | $212,980 to $239,720 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | not published | $197,560 | $175,950 to $197,560 |
How CRNA pay compares with other clinicians in Alabama
| Occupation | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $190,300 | $236,590 |
| Physician assistant | $104,960 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $105,750 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | $77,080 | $97,550 |
The Alabama CRNA workforce
BLS counts 1,810 nurse anesthetists on Alabama payrolls, or 0.86 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, more concentrated than in the country as a whole.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $169,250, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Alabama nurse anesthetists earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $213,590, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about CRNA pay in Alabama
How much does a CRNA make in Alabama?
The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists in Alabama was $190,300 in May 2025, and the mean was $189,120, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $169,250 and $213,590.
What is the hourly rate for nurse anesthetists in Alabama?
The median hourly wage was $91.49 and the mean was $90.92. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do CRNAs earn the most in Alabama?
Among Alabama metro areas with published data, Columbus, GA-AL had the highest median at $229,990, and Birmingham, AL the lowest at $175,850.
How does Alabama rank for CRNA pay?
Alabama ranks 41st of 44 states (including DC) by median CRNA pay, 20% below the national median of $236,590. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many nurse anesthetists work in Alabama?
BLS estimated 1,810 nurse anesthetists employed in Alabama in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1151, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
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